Summit County Community Notes: 2-7-2013

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Summit Habitat for Humanity will be hosting open houses tonight at 6:30 and Saturday at 3:30 p.m. These meeting will be at the Buffalo Mountain Room, County Commons.The public is invited to the meetings to see the proposed plans for the single- family house currently scheduled to begin this spring. Information on purchasing a Habitat house and requirements for becoming a Habitat Partner Family will be discussed. There will be an opportunity to ask questions, pick up an application and add your name to the growing list of volunteers.

Free tax assistance is being offered for low- and moderate-income taxpayers, and seniors who may be unfamiliar with the new tax codes, or who might have difficulty paying a fee for their tax report preparation. If you're eligible, be sure to claim earned income credits, dependent care credits and child care tax credits. Credits actually reduce your tax burden while deductions reduce your taxable income.This free service is being offered by IRS-trained and certified individuals (Colorado Mountain Tax Volunteers) at two locations in the area: the Summit County Community and Senior Center and at the Edge at Copper Mountain. Dates at the center are Tuesdays, Feb. 13, 19 and 26 and March 2. Sign up at the center, call (970) 668-2940, or for more information. Dates at the Edge are Thursdays, Feb. 7, 15, 21 and 28 and March 4. To make an appointment at the Edge, call (970) 968-3060. More dates may be added if there is demand.

Summit Thrift & Treasure in Breckenridge and Dillon is in need of volunteers and clothing, shoes, bedding, kitchen items, books, games and toy donations for our thrift stores. Sales from Summit Thrift & Treasure benefit the Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC). We have locations at 1745 Airport Road in Breck and 340 Fiedler Ave. in Dillon. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday at both locations. Volunteers are needed to sort donations and organize the store. Contact Anita at (970) 262-3888 ext. 306 for questions or stop in the stores. For more information, visit SummitFIRC.org.

Be part of the only Mardi Gras parade in Summit County on Tuesday and win cash prizes for creative floats. First place: $500; second place: $300; third place: $200. For additional information, email events@gobreck.com. Be a part of the Mardi Gras celebration in Breck.

The Summit Community Orchestra is sponsoring a concert by small ensembles, featuring the Sagebrush String Quartet at Warren Station, Keystone, on Friday at 7 p.m. The Summit Community Orchestra is a nonprofit volunteer group composed of local talented musicians and directed by Dr Kenneth Evans. The concert is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Have you ever wondered what steps are involved in purchasing a home? Come find out at our free homebuyer education class on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Buffalo Mountain Room at the County Commons in Frisco. You will learn the basics A-Z what it takes to purchase a home. The class is free and is sponsored by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, put on by the Summit Combined Housing Authority with help from local volunteers who will walk you through the lending process, real estate transaction, title company portion and home inspection. There will also be information on current down payment assistance programs and more. Snacks will also be provided. Register so that we know how many people to expect; call Joy at (970) 423-7041 or email JoyK@summithousing.us to register.

The Colorado Alzheimer's Association will provide a Caregiver Training class on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Summit County Community & Senior Center in Frisco. This workshop will be helpful for those who care for loved ones at home and volunteers who would like to assist caregivers in respite companion care. Professional caregivers and others are welcome to attend. The presentation will also address middle-stage Alzheimer's symptoms and care needs. $15 fee includes lunch and materials. Sign up by calling the center at (970) 668-2940.

Coming up Sunday is a USASA Rocky Mountain Series Rail Jam featuring young snowboard talent at the Frisco Adventure Park. Registration is open to the public starting at 3:30 p.m. Temporary USASA memberships are on sale for the event if the participant is not already a USASA member. Test runs are from 4-5 p.m. with the competition beginning immediately after. Email paul@usasa.org, visit www.RockyMountainSeries.com or call (970) 668-2558 for more information. Come check out the park's tubing hill beforehand with $5 single tubing runs, and watch competitors shred at the rail jam afterwards. The Gold Pan Caf will be serving up food and beverage items for sale in the Frisco Day Lodge.

The town of Frisco's sustainable business program is now accepting a limited number of business. Go to www.highcountryconservation.org/FriscoCleanTracks.htm to sign up. Businesses receive a $200 cash stipend toward a green project, a free energy audit and free sustainability audit. This program is designed to support and recognize businesses that are doing good things for the environment.

The Summit County Libraries would like to invite all current book club members and those who are interested in participating in a book club to join us for our annual Book Club Tea. Tea time will be from 2-4 p.m., on Tuesday, in the Blue River Room at the North Branch Library, 651 Center Circle, Silverthorne.Learn just what the library can do to help local book clubs. We can help you locate books to check out, and provide background info and discussion ideas for your group, and recommend your favorite books to others. Tea will be provided, but we ask club members to bring finger food to share with the group, along with any book ideas and recommendations. For more info on the upcoming tea, or questions on starting or joining a book club, call the library at (970) 468-5887. To learn more about upcoming events at the library, volunteer opportunities or how you can help the Summit County Libraries through donations, contact Joyce Dierauer at (970) 668-5555 or joyced@co.summit.co.us or visit www.summitcountylibraries.org.

The Swan Center is offering a two-day RIght Brain Success workshop at the Keystone Center on Saturday and Sunday. This unique educational experience will change your perspective about your brain, your mind and your life. Greater awareness and self-leadership is the key to a happier life when your creative/intuitive ability is running the show. Join us for this life-changing event. The workshop fee is $475 and is unconditionally guaranteed to meet or exceed your expectations or your money back. Call John Longhill at (970) 468-0924 for more details.